The Common Islamist Rage

The terror attacks on Jews in Israel have little to do with the living conditions of Palestinians.

(September 25) In the aftermath of the deadly Islamist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Israeli leaders should have hammered home a few simple points at every opportunity.

* Palestinians did, in fact, celebrate the collapse of the Twin Towers, and those celebrations reflect a pathological hatred of America actively promoted by the Palestinian leadership.

On the very day of the attacks on the World Trade Center the official Palestinian Authority daily Al Hayat al-Jadida proclaimed, "[Palestinian] suicide bombers are the noble successors of... the Lebanese suicide bombers who taught the US Marines a tough lesson [killing 241 Marines in Beirut]... These suicide bombers are the salt of the earth... They are the most honorable among us..."

The same PA newspaper reported on November 11, 2000 that 73% of the Palestinians support military attacks on American targets in the Middle East.

Hafiz al-Barghuti, editor-in-chief of Al Hayat, characterizes American sanctions against Iraq as an "effort to terrorize the entire Arab world and cause it to vomit up its Arabism, its religion and its history... and to remain the humiliated slave of bloodsuckers." In a 1997 editorial, al-Barghuti savored the image of "45,000 American soldiers returning to the US in body bags" and rejoiced at the flight of US Marines from Beirut "after one bold operation executed by a holy martyr, who suckled from his mother's breast a pure jihad (holy war) tradition."

* Palestinian society is permeated with the same death cult that possessed those who hijacked four US airliners and crashed them into the WTC and the Pentagon. In recent Palestinian polls, anywhere from 73% to 81% of Palestinians expressed support for suicide bombings. Palestinian media portray martyrdom as the highest goal of the faithful, and suicide bombers as the greatest of the martyrs. Children as young as eight expressing their desire for martyrdom and parents speaking of their hopes that all their offspring will be "martyrs" are daily media fare.

A typical announcement: "The Martyr... (14) responded to the call of Allah and achieved the martyrdom he yearned for, to clear the way for the liberation of Palestine from the defilement of occupation."

* Osama bin Laden's insane loathing of America and the Palestinian rage at Israel are both rooted in a vision of global jihad between Muslims and infidels. Their hatred is thus implacable, compromise impossible.

Islamist rage derives from a sense of historical grievance that can only be assuaged by the complete destruction of the enemy.

Islamist rage derives from a sense of historical grievance that can only be assuaged by the complete destruction of the enemy. In bin Laden's case, the manifest superiority of Western civilization in providing for the welfare of its citizens and the attraction of that civilization to people around the world is seen as an ongoing affront to Islam. For Palestinians, and perhaps most Muslims, Israel's very existence on even one inch of land once held by Muslims is similarly an insult to Allah.

Official Palestinian media continually harp on the sacred quality of the land and the religious requirement to expel Jews from every inch. "Since Palestine is Wakf [Islamic Trust] for all Muslims, giving recognition to the occupation is prohibited by Muslim religious law and no one has the right to give it up," proclaim preachers appointed by the PA on PA radio and TV.

In recent months, PA-appointed religious leaders have taught repeatedly that it is Allah's will to kill Jews, "as the Hadith [authoritative statement of the Prophet] states, 'The Day of Resurrection will not arrive until Muslims make war against the Jews and kill the...'"

Every treaty with Israel, including Arafat's most recent declaration of a "cease-fire," is explicitly justified by PA media as a tactic for the ultimate destruction of Israel. It is thus not accidental that no Palestinian textbook or document has ever portrayed Israel within any borders, or recognized Israel's right to exist in any borders, for such recognition contradicts the theology of the Palestinian movement.

Forcefully and repeatedly pointing out Arafat's terrorist past (and present) and Palestinian support for attacks on Americans would have greatly discredited the PA in American eyes. Americans today have little use for terrorists, and even less for those who rejoice over the deaths of Americans.

Stressing the common elements of anti-American and anti-Israeli terrorism - Israel is hated as an outpost of "Western imperialism" on Arab land - would have undercut all efforts to distinguish between the two. The jihad mentality underlying the rejection of Israel's right to exist proves that terror attacks on Jews in Israel have little to do with the living conditions of Palestinians.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...